Rotational element enabling touch-like gestures

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, the present invention provides an input device with a mechanical wheel which includes a touch sensor. In one embodiment, the wheel is a thumbwheel that uses a magnetometer to detect rotation of a magnet inside the thumbwheel. The touch sensor in one embodiment is a cylindrical floating electrode which is capacitively coupled to a bridge electrode connected to a sensing circuit. The thumbwheel may be used for horizontal scrolling, zoom and other gestures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to input devices with a rotationalelement, such as a thumbwheel on a mouse.

Mice have been designed with various scrolling wheels on top, andsometime have a thumb wheel on the side. One example is Logitech U.S.Pat. No. 8,686,944, which shows a thumb wheel used for zoom and otherfeatures. The thumb wheel can be pressed for a button activation. Otherembodiments of a thumbwheel are described in Logitech Pub. 20070188455,which also describes the prior art below.

A switch or dial on the side of a mouse that can be activated by a thumbhas been described in many different designs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,632shows a track ball that can be manipulated by a user's thumb. MicrosoftU.S. Pat. No. 5,473,344 shows a thumb wheel which is an elongated rollerthat can be depressed by pivoting around one end for a clicking switch.U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,725 shows a mouse with a side, thumb actuatedrotational transducer for controlling microscope focus. The transducergenerates a pulse train proportional to the rotational angle.

Primax U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,038 shows a number of different thumbactuated switches for the side of a mouse, including a ball, amicrostick and a dial. The dial using two tuning disks with variablecapacitance. Primax U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,473 shows a mouse with a side,thumb actuated dial which encodes using electrical brushes. The dial canbe depressed for a click switch function. IBM U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,029shows a side thumb dial on a mouse.

Alps U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,713 shows, as prior art, a mouse with anautomatic return sliding switch between the buttons on the top of amouse. This patent goes on to show a jog/shuttle switch on the front andside of a mouse. These switches are wheels, located on top of eachother, with a jog switch providing continuous pulses in accordance withrotation of the jog dial, while a shuttle switch provides pulsescorresponding to the rotational angle and direction.

Armstrong U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,473 shows forward and backward pressuresensitive buttons on the side of a mouse in FIG. 32, with varied speedsof video frame rates depending on the amount of pressure applied. PrimaxU.S. Pat. No. 5,883,619 shows a rounded control button which can betilted in x-y directions to produce scrolling. The '619 patent alsoshows a bidirectional thumb button on the side of a mouse forcontrolling zoom.

Logitech U.S. Pat. No. 7,623,116, “Roller with Multiple Force SenseLevels,” shows a roller which can pivot with two levels of forceactivating two stage buttons or pressure sensitive buttons. LogitechU.S. Pat. No. 6,879,316 shows a scroll wheel with pressure sensitivebuttons on either side for activating continuous scrolling.

Proximity detection in a mouse, such as to awaken a mouse from sleepmode when a user's hand approaches, is shown in Logitech U.S. Pat. No.6,859,196.

Smart phones and tablets use touch screens with a variety of gesturesused for input controls. There have been attempts to incorporate gesturecapability on other input devices. For example, Logitech Pub. No.20130120259 describes a solid state touch sensor for a user's thumb on amouse, enabling gesture detection.

A challenge with implementing a mechanical thumb roller on the side of amouse is fitting the needed components in the available space. There areadvantages to a mechanical thumb wheel, and there are differentadvantages to a touch sensor (gesture detection).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention provides an input device with amechanical rotational element and an associated touch sensor. Thecombination of rotation of the rotational element, and touch and liftoff detected by the touch sensor, can be used to generate gestures. Thetouch sensor can also be used for an activation, or button press,function, eliminating the need for the rotational element to bemechanically depressible in addition to being rotatable.

In one embodiment, a mechanical wheel design with a touch sensor allowsit to be placed in the constrained space for a thumbwheel on a userinput device, such as a mouse. The design uniquely combines wheel touchdetection with high resolution(<1°) angular sensor in a very compactform factor.

In one embodiment, the invention reproduces a multi-finger touchexperience using a mechanical horizontal wheel. It brings an advancedtouch user experience into basic controls. On top of standard horizontalscroll, it enables computer controls like smooth back & forward orsmooth application page control.

In one embodiment, a thumbwheel uses a magnetometer to detect rotationof the thumbwheel. The thumbwheel has an internal, disk shaped magnetwith radial north and south poles, to allow detection of radialposition. A small magnet allows close placement of the magnetometer,providing enough signal without saturation. Near the outer surface ofthe thumbwheel is a cylindrical floating electrode for capacitive touchdetection. The floating electrode is covered with a rubber grip, whichacts as an insulator. The electrode is capacitively coupled to anelectrode on a printed circuit board (PCB). This eliminates the need fora wire connection and enables the touch detector to be mounted in therotating thumbwheel itself Thus use of a touch sensor eliminates theneed to depress the thumbwheel for a “click” activation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a thumbwheel according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the assembled thumbwheel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a mounting module for the thumbwheel ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the assembly of the connected electrodeof FIG. 3 on the bearing of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the backside of the PCB of the mounting module ofFIG. 3, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an assembled thumbwheel of FIG. 1 and mountingmodule of FIG. 3, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mouse including the thumbwheel of FIG.1, according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a thumbwheel 100 according to anembodiment of the invention. The thumbwheel has a right body portion 102and a left body portion 104. Axles 122 and 124 extend from body portions104 and 102. Body portions 102 and 104 can be made of plastic. A diskshaped magnet 106 is mounted into an opening 108 in right body 102. Acopper floating electrode 110 is placed over interior portions 112 and114 of right body 102 and left body 104, respectively. A cosmetic ring116 is pushed on over the center of copper electrode 110, followed byrubber grips 118 and 120 on either side.

FIG. 2 shows the assembled thumbwheel 100 of the embodiment of FIG. 1.In one embodiment, the disk shaped magnet 106 is 3 mm in diameter and 1mm thick. It has radial north and south poles. Electrode 110 is copperin one embodiment. Alternately, it could be aluminum or anothermaterial. In one embodiment, the electrode is a phosphorus-copper alloy.Phosphorus is added to make the copper stronger, so that it will holdits position after forming. The material of this electrode, and theconnected electrode described below, on the wheel should be paramagneticin order to not perturb the magnetic field used for angular positiondetection. The same applies to any coating or paint on the wheel orother structures. Such a coating or paint, on the plastic parts orotherwise, should be a patent with no metal filings.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a mounting module for the thumbwheel ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the invention. Thumbwheel 100 ismounted on a bearing 302. Axles 122 and 124 (not visible) snap into arms304 and 306 of bearing 302. A bearing grease is applied to the axlesand/or the holes in arms 304 and 306. The grease has sufficientviscosity to dampen the movement of the roller, to avoid small,unintended movements of the thumbwheel when a user's thumb is simplyresting on the thumbwheel. In addition, debouncing firmware or softwarecan additionally be used to limit such unintended movements, similar tothat used for finger scrolling wheels.

A connected electrode 308 is attached to the backside of bearing 302, asshown in more detail in FIG. 4. A PCB 310 attaches to the back ofbearing 302. The PCB includes a magnetometer 312 for sensing the angularposition of the magnet and thumbwheel 100. The position of magnetometer312 is close to the magnet 106 and thumbwheel 100, yet sufficiently farto intersect the magnetic field at a proper distance from the magnet toallow optimum detection. A plastic portion of bearing 302 coversmagnetometer 312 when assembled, to shield it from any electrostaticdischarge (esd). A thumb module housing 314 will hold the combinedassembly of the thumbwheel 100, bearing 302 and PCB 310, while itselfbeing attached to the mouse or other input device.

For the position of magnetometer 312 as shown in the embodiment of FIG.3, the magnet used has an axial polarization. This ensures that themagnetometer is positioned within a portion of the magnetic field of themagnet which provides maximum magnetic field intensity and variation ofthe magnetic field as the thumbwheel is rotated.

A pair of switches 316 and 318 are mounted on PCB 310 used for separateback and forward buttons on a mouse. Not shown, but LEDs or other lightsources can be provided to give feedback to the user when the user'sthumb is detected to touch the thumbwheel, or to lift off.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the assembly of the connected electrodeof FIG. 3 on the bearing of FIG. 3. Connected electrode 308 can be madeof copper, or alternately aluminum or another material. In oneembodiment, connected electrode 308 is mounted in bearing 302 as shown,then soldered onto PCB 310.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the backside of the PCB of the mounting module ofFIG. 3, according to one embodiment of the invention. A touch detectionintegrated circuit 502 is connected to solder placed through an opening504 to connect to connected electrode 308 on the opposite side of thePCB. Through holes in the PCB also connect the circuitry on the backsideto the magnetometer 312 on the opposite side of the PCB.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an assembled thumbwheel of FIG. 1 and mountingmodule of FIG. 3, according to one embodiment of the invention. Thethumbwheel 100, bearing 302 and PCB 310 are mounted on module housing314 using a screw 602. Screw 604 attaches PCB 310 to housing 314.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mouse 700 including the thumbwheel ofFIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the invention. Mouse 700 alsoincludes a finger-activated scrolling wheel 702 and buttons 704 and 706.The thumbwheel 100 has a much small diameter than finger wheel 702,since the most comfortable use of a thumb provides less movement than afinger. The smaller diameter allows a larger movement with a smallmovement of the thumb.

In operation, floating electrode 110 acts as a bridge to connected,sensing electrode 308 to provide an indication of a user touch orproximity to the thumbwheel. The control signal generated by the touchsensor could be generated in hardware, firmware or software. The signalcould provide an activation upon the finger being lifted off thethumbwheel, placed on the thumbwheel, or both. The control signals canbe the same touch control signals used on a touch surface of asmartphone or table, with the obvious limitation that movements wouldnot be detected for a single electrode embodiment (such as a swipe orfingers squeezing together or moving apart.

Calibration

For each input device, such as a mouse, the particular magnet field ofmagnet 106 may vary, as well as the receptive characteristics ofmagnetometer 312. Accordingly, each device can be calibrated using atest station. The test station has a motor that engages the wheel, and aprobe which measures the magnetometer output. The maximum and minimumvalues along each axis of the electromagnetic field, as detected, arerecorded and mapped to the rotational location of the thumbwheel. Themapped values can be used as a look-up table to indicate the amount ofrotation, or can be used as a correction factor for a magnetometeroutput.

Gestures

Any number of gestures can be implemented. For a basic operation, thebuilding blocks for gestures are thumb ON, thumb OFF, tap, double tapand rotation (scroll/zoom). In one embodiment, the building blocks canbe mapped to different gestures, taking into account that the fingerscroll wheel 702 provides the ability to generate other gestures. Forexample, the rotation of the thumbwheel can be mapped to a two fingermovement (e.g., scroll), while movement of the finger wheel is mapped toa single finger scroll.

In one embodiment, a double tap on the thumbwheel is used to change thefunction of the thumbwheel. For example, it can change from horizontalscrolling to zoom (with the finger wheel being used for verticalscrolling).

In one embodiment, the lifting of the thumb off the thumbwheel isdetected, and used to stop the movement on a display. In anotherembodiment, if the velocity of the thumbwheel is above a predeterminedthreshold, the thumb lifting off does not stop the movement, but themovement continues for a period of time.

In one embodiment, maintaining a button press (such as left/rightbutton) and rotating the wheel will change a function (such as amodifier key on a keyboard). In one example, for a wheel on a keyboard,a back/forward command is sent by default when the wheel is rotated, anda left click+wheel rotation sends a horizontal scroll event.

In one embodiment, a freewheel movement can be emulated by using thecapacitive touch sensor. As soon as the finger is removed from thewheel, the speed (starting speed) is recorded and a decay rate isapplied until the speed is null. The decay rate and the starting speedcan be adjustable by the user.

Alternate Embodiments

Various alternate embodiments are possible within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, instead of amagnetometer, other rotational sensors could be used in combination withthe touch sensor. For example, hall sensors, optical sensors ormechanical sensors (e.g., high resolution mechanical variable resistorsensors) could be used.

In another embodiment, the floating sensor could be replaced with afixed electrode positioned at the edges of the thumbwheel, such that theuser's thumb can turn the wheel, while portions of the users thumblightly contact, or are sufficient close, to the fixed electrode so asto provide touch detection. In such an embodiment, the touch sensorcould be resistive or capacitive.

In alternate embodiments, a small swipe action could be detected byusing multiple ring electrodes, instead of a single, cylindricalfloating electrode, along with multiple connected electrodes to detectwhich ring is being primarily touched, to indicate a direction ofmovement.

In another embodiment, the input device is a trackball. Alternately, theinput device can be a joystick, gamepad, remote control, keyboard,touchpad, or any other input device. In alternate embodiments, the wheelis located where it can be activated by a finger rather than a thumb.

In other embodiments, the wheel could be replaced with a ball or anyother rotational element. The touch sensor could be any type of touchsensor, including optical, pressure, capacitive or other touch sensors.The rotational element and touch sensor can be mounted at any locationon a consumer electronic device such as mouse (top, side, side bottom),keyboard or presenter.

1. An input device, comprising: a mechanical rotational element; a firstsensor for indicting rotational movement of the rotational element; anda second sensor mounted on the rotational element for indicating one oftouch and proximity of a portion of a user's hand to the rotationalelement.
 2. The input device of claim 1 wherein said first sensorcomprises: a magnet internally mounted in the rotational element; and amagnetometer mounted near the rotational element.
 3. The input device ofclaim 2 wherein the rotational element is a wheel and the magnet is diskshaped with radial north and south poles.
 4. The input device of claim 3wherein the magnetometer is mounted offset from the wheel, to one sideand farther inside the input device than the wheel.
 5. The input deviceof claim 1 wherein the second sensor is a capacitive sensor comprising:a floating electrode mounted in the rotational element; a bridgeelectrode mounted outside and adjacent the rotational element; and adetection circuit connected to the bridge electrode.
 6. The input deviceof claim 5 wherein: the rotational element is a wheel; the floatingelectrode is a cylindrical electrode mounted near an exterior surface ofthe wheel; and further comprising an insulator mounted on the wheel tocover the cylindrical electrode.
 7. The input device of claim 6 furthercomprising a bearing module for supporting the wheel; and wherein thebridge electrode contains a flat, rectangular portion mounted directlybehind the wheel, on a side of the bearing module opposite the wheel. 8.The input device of claim 6 wherein the insulator is a rubber grip withan uneven outer surface for griping by a user.
 9. The input device ofclaim 1 wherein the rotational element is a thumbwheel and the inputdevice is a mouse.
 10. The input device of claim 1 further comprising aprocessing module for generating gesture commands responsive to signalsfrom the first and second sensors.
 11. The input device of claim 10wherein the gesture commands include a horizontal scrolling gesture anda double tap gesture to change mode.
 12. The input device of claim 11wherein the change mode acts to change between a horizontal scrollingmode and a zoom mode.
 13. An input device comprising: a mechanical thumbwheel mounted on a side of the input device; a first sensor forindicting rotational movement of the wheel, the first sensor comprisinga magnet internally mounted in said mechanical wheel, and a magnetometermounted near the wheel; and a second, touch sensor for indicatingproximity of a portion of a user's hand to the wheel, the touch sensorcomprising a floating electrode mounted in the wheel, a bridge electrodemounted outside and adjacent the wheel, and a detection circuitconnected to the bridge electrode.
 14. The input device of claim 13wherein: the floating electrode is a cylindrical electrode mounted nearan exterior surface of the wheel; and further comprising an insulatormounted on the wheel to cover the cylindrical electrode.
 15. A mousecomprising: a mechanical thumb wheel mounted on a side of the mouse; afirst sensor for indicting rotational movement of the wheel, the firstsensor comprising a magnet internally mounted in said mechanical wheel,and a magnetometer mounted near the wheel; a second, touch sensor forindicating proximity of a portion of a user's hand to the wheel, thetouch sensor comprising a floating electrode mounted in the wheel, abridge electrode mounted outside and adjacent the wheel, and a detectioncircuit connected to the bridge electrode; a processing module forgenerating gesture commands responsive to signals from the first andsecond sensors; and wherein the gesture commands include a horizontalscrolling gesture and a double tap gesture to change mode.